Governor Lamont signs law consolidating Connecticut hate‑crime statutes and launches reporting portal

Governor Lamont signed Senate Bill 90, Public Act 2677, at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, consolidating Connecticut's scattered hate‑crime and bias statutes into one chapter of state law and launching a new public reporting portal and awareness campaign.

Amy Lyn Meerson, co‑chair of Connecticut's Hate Crimes Advisory Council, described the measure as "historic," saying it "cleanly consolidates Connecticut's scattered hate crimes and bias crimes into one single cohesive chapter of the Connecticut statutes so that hate crimes can be more easily identified and prosecuted." Meerson introduced community leaders, advocates and law enforcement gathered for the signing.

Chief State's Attorney Patrick Griffin said consolidation will reduce legal confusion that now spans more than 20 statutes across multiple titles. "This act for the first time in Connecticut history says what these acts are. They are hate crimes," Griffin said, and he added that removing an undefined requirement to prove "malicious" intent will align state law more closely with federal practice and reduce prosecutorial hurdles.

Commissioner Ronald Higgins of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection said the state is pairing statutory clarity with investments in prevention and education. "We are not waiting for a crime to occur before we engage," Higgins said, describing an expanded statewide hate‑crimes investigative unit that will offer training, community outreach and a resource for local police. He urged anyone who believes they have been a victim or witness of a hate crime to call 911.

Officials also announced reporthate.ct.gov, a new online portal intended to collect reports of bias incidents that may not meet the threshold for criminal charges. Ken Baron, who described the portal and a 30‑second PSA under the tagline "Hate is more than a word. It may be a crime," said better data would allow the state to identify trends and surge resources to affected communities.

Speakers from affected communities framed the signing as both symbolic and practical. Senator Derek Slap pointed to a rise in anti‑Semitic incidents and the complementary legislative work on school task forces; Matt Lyn Stubis, executive director of Equality Connecticut, urged use of every available tool to protect transgender and other LGBTQ residents; and Tara Cook Litman of the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut cited FBI data showing religiously motivated incidents disproportionately target Jewish communities.

Professor Sasha Pandy of the University of Connecticut School of Law described the drafting process used by the advisory council and said implementation will require continued engagement from police, prosecutors, defense attorneys and communities to ensure the law "works for real."

At the ceremony Governor Lamont said the law recognizes that hate crimes injure entire communities and reiterated state security investments for houses of worship. Officials closed the formal program by urging bystander reporting and directing people to 911 for crimes and to reporthate.ct.gov for non‑criminal bias incidents.

The signing implements Public Act 2677 as described by speakers at the event; officials did not announce further legislative steps during the program. The public‑facing reporting portal and PSA were presented as immediate follow‑ups to help identify patterns and guide education and enforcement efforts.